Of many our contriving friends in Rome Eno. I shall do't. SCENE III. [Exeunt. Enter CLEOPATRA, CHARMIAN, IRAS, and ALEXAS. Cleo. Where is he? Char. I did not see him since. Cleo. See where he is, who's with him, what he does.― I did not send you.2—If you find him sad, Say, I am dancing; if in mirth, report That I am sudden sick. Quick, and return. [Exit ALEX. Char. Madam, methinks, if you did love him dearly, You do not hold the method to enforce The like from him. Cleo. What should I do, I do not? Char. In each thing give him way; cross him in nothing. 1 This alludes to the ancient vulgar error, that a horse-hair dropped into corrupted water would become animated. Dr. Lister, in the Philosophical Transactions, showed that these animated horse-hairs were real insects, and displayed the fallacy of the popular opinion. 2 "You must go as if you came without my order or knowledge." Cleo. Thou teachest, like a fool, the way to lose him. Char. Tempt him not so too far. I wish, forbear: In time we hate that which we often fear. Enter ANTONY. But here comes Antony. I am sick and sullen. Cleo. Ant. I am sorry to give breathing to my purpose,Cleo. Help me away, dear Charmian, I shall fall ; It cannot be thus long; the sides of nature Will not sustain it.1 Ant. Now, my dearest queen, Cleo. Pray you, stand further from me. Ant. What's the matter? Cleo. I know, by that same eye, there's some good news. What says the married woman?-You may go; Cleo. O, never was there queen So mightily betrayed! Yet, at the first, Ant. Cleopatra, Cleo. Why should I think you can be mine, and true, Though you in swearing shake the throned gods, Who have been false to Fulvia? Riotous madness, To be entangled with those mouth-made vows, Which, break themselves in swearing! Most sweet queen, Ant. Cleo. Nay, pray you, seek no color for your going, But bid farewell, and go: when you sued staying, Then was the time for words. No going then ;— Eternity was in our lips and eyes; 1 Thus in Twelfth Night : : "There is no woman's sides Can bide the beating of so strong a passion." Bliss in our brows' bent; none our parts so poor, Cleo. I would I had thy There were a heart in Egypt. Ant. How now, lady! inches; thou shouldst Hear me, queen; The strong necessity of time commands Shines o'er with civil swords. Sextus Pompeius Breeds scrupulous faction: the hated, grown Are newly grown to love: the condemned Pompey, to Into the hearts of such as have not thrived 5 Cleo. Though age from folly could not give me freedom, It does from childishness.-Can Fulvia die? 6 Ant. She's dead, my queen. Look here, and, at thy sovereign leisure, read 1 The bending or inclination of our brows. 2 i. e. of heavenly mould. 3 The Poet here means, "in pledge:" the use of a thing is the posses sion of it. 4 Gate. 5 i. e. render my going not dangerous. 6 Cleopatra apparently means to say, "Though age could not exempt me from folly, at least it frees me from a childish and ready belief of every assertion. Is it possible that Fulvia is dead? I cannot believe it." 7 The commotion she occasioned. Cleo. O, most false love! Where be the sacred vials thou shouldst fill In Fulvia's death, how mine received shall be. Cleo. Cut my lace, Charmian, come ; But let it be. I am quickly ill, and well; Ant. My precious queen, forbear; And give true evidence to his love, which stands An honorable trial. Cleo. So Fulvia told me. I pr'ythee, turn aside, and weep for her; Like perfect honor. Ant. You'll heat my blood; no more. Cleo. You can do better yet; but this is meetly. Ant. Now, by my sword, Cleo. And target,-Still he mends; But this is not the best. Look, pr'ythee, Charmian, How this Herculean Roman 2 does become The carriage of his chafe. Ant. I'll leave you, lady. Cleo. Courteous lord, one word. Sir, you and I must part,—but that's not it; Sir, you and I have loved, but there's not it; That you know well. Something it is I would,— And I am all forgotten. 1 Alluding to the lachrymatory vials filled with tears, which the Romans placed in the tomb of a departed friend. 2 Antony traced his descent from Anton, a son of Hercules. 3 Oblivion is used for oblivious memory, a memory apt to be deceitful. Ant. But that your royalty Holds idleness your subject, I should take you Cleo. 'Tis sweating labor, To bear such idleness so near the heart As Cleopatra this. But, sir, forgive me; And all the gods go with you! Upon your sword Be strewed before your feet! Ant. Let us go. Come; That thou, residing here, go'st yet with me, [Exeunt. SCENE IV. Rome. An Apartment in Cæsar's House. Enter OCTAVIUS CESAR, LEPIDUS, and Attendants. Cæs. You may see, Lepidus, and henceforth know, It is not Cæsar's natural vice to hate Our great competitor.3 From Alexandria This is the news:-He fishes, drinks, and wastes there You shall fina 1 An antithesis seems intended between royalty and subject. "But that I know you to be a queen, and that your royalty holds idleness in subjection to you, I should suppose you, from this idle discourse, to be the very genius of idleness itself:" 2 That which would seem to become me most, is hateful to me when it is not acceptable in your sight." 3 The old copy reads, "One great competitor." Dr. Johnson proposed the emendation. |